The remainder of the chapter presents statistics from retail trade and wholesale trade (with information drawn from monthly and quarterly surveys of businesses), and the 2003-04 surveys of public libraries, museums, cafes and restaurants, and accommodation services (which are part of a rotating program of service collections conducted by the ABS). This rotating program of service collections includes specific surveys each year, with the main focus being the size and structure of individual services in terms of detailed financial information and employment.

RETAIL TRADE

The retail trade industry comprises businesses primarily engaged in the sale of new or used goods to final consumers for personal or household consumption, or in selected repair activities such as repair of household equipment or motor vehicles.

The estimate of retail turnover includes the value of turnover from businesses such as supermarkets, clothing and department stores, as well as hospitality and selected service businesses such as cafes and restaurants, hotels and licensed clubs. It excludes motor vehicle retailing and services. In order to measure the actual expenditure of consumers, retail turnover is recorded from 1 July 2000 inclusive of the Goods and Services Tax.

Table 20.3 presents annual chain volume measures of retail turnover for the period 1993-94 to 2004-05. Total retail turnover (in chain volume terms) increased by 58% between 1993-94 and 2004-05, representing an average annual growth rate of 4%.

The group representing the largest component of retail turnover (in current prices) in 2004-05 was food retailing with 40% of total turnover. The next largest groups were hospitality and services, and household good retailing with a 14% share of total turnover.

Between 2003-04 and 2004-05 the turnover (in chain volume terms) of household good retailing increased by 10%, clothing and soft good retailing by 8%, and recreational good retailing by 5%. Department store retailing turnover also increased by 5%, and food retailing by 3%. Retail turnover for hospitality and services fell by 1%.

20.3 RETAIL TURNOVER, Chain volume measures(a)

Industry group

Food
retailing

Department
stores

Clothing and soft good retailing

Household good
retailing

Recreational good
retailing

Other
retailing

Hospitality
and
services

Retail
turnover(b)

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

1993-94

57,382

11,607

8,497

10,478

6,582

11,164

23,376

126,396

1994-95

60,483

11,972

8,737

11,399

6,941

11,749

25,144

133,689

1995-96

63,359

12,296

8,908

12,317

7,304

12,364

25,409

139,399

1996-97

63,913

12,222

8,782

13,653

6,948

12,895

23,932

140,603

1997-98

66,377

12,573

8,988

14,246

7,099

14,053

24,170

145,818

1998-99

67,882

12,974

10,049

14,713

7,188

14,613

26,154

151,821

1999-2000

69,056

13,746

10,778

17,456

7,273

15,678

27,462

160,383

2000-01

69,566

13,171

10,233

18,581

6,987

16,684

27,485

161,844

2001-02

71,713

13,795

11,035

21,671

7,015

18,158

28,221

171,198

2002-03

74,073

14,634

11,707

24,158

7,188

19,007

29,203

179,783

2003-04

77,101

15,690

12,487

28,128

7,902

20,972

31,239

193,520

2004-05

79,080

16,401

13,482

30,973

8,287

21,261

30,802

200,286

(a) Based on quarterly data. Reference year is 2003-04.(b) Chain volume measures are not additive for years other than 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Source: Retail Trade, Australia (8501.0).

Graph 20.4 shows annual growth rates for total retail turnover (in chain volume terms) from 1994-95 to 2004-05. During this period the four years with the strongest annual growth were 2003-04 (8%) and 1994-95, 2001-02 and 1999-2000 (6%). The two years of weakest growth occurred in 1996-97 and 2000-01 (1%). Growth in 2000-01 was affected by the unusual increase in the volume of goods sold in the June quarter 2000 prior to the introduction of The New Tax System on 1 July 2000.

In 2003-04 retail trade industry GVA (in current prices) was $42,585 million (m) or 5.2% of GDP.

WHOLESALE TRADE

The wholesale trade industry covers those businesses involved in the sale of new or used goods to businesses or to institutional (including government) users.

Table 20.5 presents annual chain volume measures of total wholesale trade sales for the period 1993-94 to 2004-05. Total wholesale sales (in chain volume terms) more than doubled between 1993-94 and 2004-05, and increased by 4% between 2003-04 and 2004-05.

In 2003-04 wholesale trade industry GVA (in current prices) was $41,840m, or 5.1% of GDP.

20.5 WHOLESALE SALES, Chain volume measures(a)

$m

1993-94

130,350

1994-95

148,788

1995-96

151,190

1996-97

157,525

1997-98

174,380

1998-99

189,520

1999-2000(b)

212,782

2000-01

215,126

2001-02

229,966

2002-03

244,930

2003-04

266,527

2004-05

275,928

(a) Based on quarterly data. Reference year for chain volume measures is 2003-04.(b) A break in series occurred between June and September 1999 quarters.

Source: Business Indicators, Australia (5676.0).

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The ABS conducted a survey of public library operations in respect of 2003-04. The survey included local government libraries, national, state and territory libraries and archival service organisations. Excluded were libraries with restricted access such as those operated by educational institutions (universities and schools), and libraries operated privately by businesses and organisations for internal reference purposes.

At 30 June 2004, there were 532 local government library organisations with 1,716 library locations, 8 national and state library organisations with 17 locations, and 8 national and state archive organisations with 21 locations. During 2003-04, there were 105 million visits to local government, national and state libraries, with visits to local government libraries accounting for 95% of this figure (100 million visits) (table 20.6).

The total library holding stock of these organisations was 53 million books and other library materials at the end of June 2004, of which 39 million were available as lending stock and 14 million as non-lending stock.

In total, 13,282 employees worked for public libraries and archive organisations at the end of June 2004, with 10,606 people (80%) employed by local government libraries. These organisations also had a total of 6,853 people working as volunteers during the month of June 2004.

Total income of the industry in 2003-04 was $948m. The great majority of income was from government funding, which accounted for $879m or 93% of total income. Expenses incurred by the industry totalled $960m, with labour costs of $494m accounting for 51% of all expenses.

20.6 PUBLIC LIBRARIES - 2003-04

Units

Local
government
libraries

National and
state libraries

National and
state archives

Total

Organisations at 30 June

no.

532

8

8

548

Locations at 30 June

no.

1,716

17

21

1,754

Employees at 30 June

no.

10,606

1,865

811

13,282

Volunteers during June

no.

6,315

416

122

6,853

Volunteer hours during June

no.

55,749

3,307

1,886

60,942

Visits to library locations(a)

'000

99,622

5,048

-

104,670

Library holdings at 30 June

Lending stock

'000

38,984.5

-

-

38,984.5

Non-lending stock

'000

2,511.8

11,276.3

-

13,788.2

Total

'000

41,496.3

11,276.3

-

52,772.7

Income

Government funding(b)

$m

521.9

259.4

97.9

879.2

Income from services to clients

$m

18.3

12.0

10.4

40.8

Other income

$m

5.0

22.4

0.7

28.1

Total

$m

545.2

293.7

109.1

948.0

Expenses

Labour costs

$m

340.8

106.9

46.3

494.0

Other expenses

$m

204.4

200.7

60.7

465.8

Total

$m

545.2

307.6

107.0

959.8

(a) During year ended 30 June.(b) Excludes capital funding.

Source: Public Libraries, Australia, 2003-04 (8561.0).

MUSEUMS

The ABS conducted a survey of organisations engaged in operating museums and art galleries in respect of 2003-04. These organisations were only included if they were open to the general public during 2003-04.

At the end of June 2004, there were 1,329 museum locations operating in Australia, comprising: 160 museums/art galleries; 381 historic properties/sites; 673 social history museums; and 116 other types of museums (table 20.7).

The 1,329 museums contained a total of 55 million artefacts, artworks and museum objects at 30 June 2004, and were visited by 31 million visitors during 2003-04. The majority of admissions were free of charge (66%). A total of $35m was spent on purchases of museum objects and artworks, and 3,405 special exhibitions were held.

At 30 June 2004, there were 7,624 people employed in museums, while during the month of June 2004 there were a large number of volunteers (20,443) assisting with museum operations.

During 2003-04, museums accrued a total of $919m in income. Most of this income was sourced from government funding ($628m or 68%). Fundraising operations provided $89m (10%) and admissions $56m (6%).

Of the $810m incurred in expenses by museums during 2003-04, labour costs were the most significant at $320m (40% of total expenses).

20.7 MUSEUMS - 2003-04

Units

Museums/
art
galleries

Historic
properties/
sites

Social
history
museums

Other
museums

Total

Museum/gallery locations at 30 June

no.

*160

381

673

*116

1,329

Artefacts/art works/museum objects at 30 June

'000

*2,915.5

1,609.8

10,057.2

40,333.0

54,915.5

Special exhibitions held(a)

no.

*1,612

*279

*1,346

*168

3,405

Purchases of museum objects/artworks(a)(b)

$m

28.7

0.5

*4.3

1.1

34.6

Admissions(a)

Paid

'000

*1,546.3

*2,798.9

*4,025.5

2,188.9

10,559.5

Free

'000

*9,934.6

*1,988.3

5,801.0

*2,906.7

*20,630.6

Total

'000

*11 480.9

*4 787.1

9 826.5

*5 095.6

*31 190.1

Employment at 30 June

persons

2,081

1,298

2,434

1,811

7,624

Volunteers during the month of June

persons

*3,125

*4,814

*11,185

*1,318

20,443

Income

Government funding(c)

$m

200.4

47.9

193

186.7

628

Fundraising

$m

62.0

6.8

12.5

7.7

89.0

Admissions

$m

8.8

18.1

*20.2

8.9

55.9

Other

$m

53.7

24.6

33.7

*34.3

146.5

Total

$m

324.9

97.5

259.4

237.6

919.4

Expenses

Labour costs

$m

99.1

39.6

91.5

90.1

320.4

Other

$m

166.4

41.0

138.3

144.2

489.9

Total

$m

265.5

80.6

229.7

234.4

810.3

(a) During year ended 30 June.(b) Includes current and capital expenditure.(c) Includes current and capital funding and funding for one-off projects.

Source: Museums, Australia, 2003-04 (8560.0).

In 2003-04, Victoria and New South Wales had similar proportions of total admissions for Australia to museums (31%). The Australian Capital Territory had the next highest proportion, with 11% (graph 20.8).

CAFES AND RESTAURANTS

An important component of hospitality services is cafes and restaurants. This includes businesses mainly engaged in operating cafes and restaurants for consumption of meals on the premises, and businesses mainly engaged in catering services. Businesses mainly engaged in takeaway food retailing are excluded.

At 30 June 2004 there were 15,083 businesses in cafes and restaurants services (table 20.9), comprising 5,151 licensed cafes and restaurants; 2,493 licensed and BYO cafes and restaurants; 2,476 BYO cafes and restaurants; and 3,167 unlicensed cafes and restaurants. In addition, there were 1,796 catering businesses.

During 2003-04 cafe and restaurant businesses generated $10,130m in income. Just over half of this income (51%) was generated from sales of meals consumed on the premises. Catering services generated $2,356m (23%) of total income, while sales of beverages accounted for a further $1,666m (16%). Between 1998-99 and 2003-04 income from the sale of liquor and other beverages grew at a higher rate (8% per year) than takings from meals consumed on the premises (5% per year).

Total expenses of businesses during 2003-04 were $9,733m. The two largest expense items were purchases ($3,801m) and labour costs ($3,479m), which represented 39% and 36% respectively of total expenses. Rent of land, buildings and other structures had the highest growth rate of all selected expenses, rising by 11% per year.

Income grew by 7% per year between 1998-99 and 2003-04, while expenditure grew at just over 7% per year for this same period.

During 2003-04, cafes and restaurants services recorded an operating profit before tax of $404m, representing an operating profit margin of 4%. Between 1998-99 and 2003-04 the operating profit before tax grew at an average annual rate of 4% per year. However, the operating profit margin decreased from 5% to 4%.

At 30 June 2004 total employment in cafes and restaurants was 188,103 people, of whom 76,030 (40%) were waiters and waitresses, 41,053 (22%) were qualified and other chefs and cooks, and 33,144 (18%) were kitchen hands. Employment increased by 4% per year between 1998-99 and 2003-04.

At 30 June 2004, there were 5,682 accommodation businesses operating in Australia (table 20.10). These businesses had employment of 91,399 people, a decrease of 9% from 30 June 2001 (100,401). This represents an average decline of 3% per year over the period 2000-01 to 2003-04.

During 2003-04, accommodation businesses generated $8,096m in income. Just under two thirds of this income ($5,346m or 66%) was from takings for accommodation. Takings from meals generated $1,224m (15%) of total income, while the sale of liquor and other beverages accounted for a further $524m (6%). Total income of accommodation businesses increased by 2%, or an average 0.7% per year, between 2000-01 and 2003-04. Takings from accommodation increased by 12%, while income from all other activities decreased.

Accommodation businesses incurred expenses of $7,322m during 2003-04. Labour costs ($2,566m) were the highest single expense item, accounting for 35% of total expenses. Purchases of foodstuffs for use in preparing meals accounted for $424m (6%), while purchases of liquor and other beverages totalled $196m (3%). Total expenses increased by 1% over the period 2000-01 to 2003-04.

In 2003-04, the operating profit before tax for accommodation services businesses was $777m, resulting in an operating profit margin of 10%.